ODI World Cup 2023: Nathan Lyon Offers Australia Spin Help In India If Required

Australia have come into the ODI World Cup 2023 with one speciallist spinner in Adam Zampa after Ashton Agar was ruled out.

New Delhi: Nathan Lyon has offered his services to the Australian team if required in the ongoing World Cup 2023 after he declared that he had recovered from a calf injury. Australia have come with one speciallist spinner in Adam Zampa after Ashton Agar was ruled out before the mega event. Glenn Maxwell and Marnus Labuschagne can be used as part-time spinners.

“I sent Andrew McDonald a text message the other day when I saw Ashton Agar was ruled out,” Agar told reporters at the Waverley Oval on Sunday. “I said, ‘Just to let you know, I’m back bowling 10 overs, I’m right to go, 100 per cent’. If that happened I’d do anything to go over and play the World Cup.”

Agar was initially named in Australia’s ODI World Cup 2023 squad keeping the spin-friendly conditions in India. But he was ruled out of the tournament after sustaining a calf tear while playing against South Africa. Cricket Australia named Marnus Labuschagne as his replacement.

“I’d be more than comfortable going in there and doing it if I had to. But, in saying that there has to be a lot of things go wrong; so let’s hope for Australia’s sake that doesn’t happen,” he added. Notably, Zampa suffered a freak injury during their pool session as per reports. However, it is expected to be not that big as Zampa is likely to play against India in their campaign opener on Sunday in Chennai.

“Hopefully, they go out there and have a really good campaign and make sure they go over there to achieve what they’ve gone over there to do,” added the 36-year-old, who hasn’t played any cricket since the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.

Lyon, who has been under rehab for more than 13 weeks, will return to competitive cricket next weekend for North District Cricket Club. He is expected to play some Marsh Cup and Sheffield Shield games and is also in line to play the opening Test against Pakistan in Perth on December 14.

However, Lyon has not played ODIs compared to his red-ball stats. The offie has played just 29 ODIs and took the same number of wickets. His last ODI appearance for Australia was in 2019 during the World Cup in England.

Lyon feels Maxwell should take added responsibility and assist Zampa. “Glenn Phillips bowled pretty well the other night against England, and I feel like Maxi’s (Maxwell) skill set is up there, and he’s extremely confident,” Lyon said.

“Hundred per cent I’m backing his skill-set to do the job there, and when Travis Head comes back, I dare say his off-breaks will be quite effective as well,” he added.